Site targets keeping Connecticut students in state - NEWS - Brief Article

Matrix: The Magazine for Leaders in Education, Feb, 2001 by Odvard Egil Dyrli

As part of an ongoing effort to keep students closer to home for college, Connecticut and a group of public and private colleges recently launched a new "Connecticut Mentor" Web site http://www.ctmentor.org that offers information about all 34 colleges and universities in the state. In addition to providing prospective students with convenient "one-stop" resources on admissions, financial aid, and academic programs for each institution from Asnuntuck Community College to Yale University, the site features interactive virtual campus tours, and provides opportunities for students to get questions answered and submit applications online.

The new site complements the state's multifaceted "You Belong in Connecticut" campaign (http://www.youbelonginct.com)launched almost two years ago, and the programs have already paid dividends. After hitting an all-time low four years ago, enrollment in state colleges and universities is now increasing, and figures released by the Department of Higher Education (http://www.ctdhe.org) indicates a 1.8- percent increase over last year.

According to Judith Greiman, president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (http://www.theccic.org), Citibank paid the $750, 000 to develop the site, and is also picking up the $150, 000 annual operating costs. In return, the bank is listed on the "Connecticut Mentor" site promotional materials--including postcards mailed to high school students throughout Connecticut--and maintains a banner ad on the site's financial aid page.